What’s the scariest thing that’s ever happened to you? For one family in Ponce De Leon, Florida, it was the day their three-year-old son, Marshal, went missing.
What made it even worse? Marshal is autistic and nonverbal. Their fear grew as hope of finding him began to fade. But there was one small comfort: the family’s two dogs, Nala and Buckwheat, had disappeared with Marshal.
“We were panicked, all sorts of worst-case scenarios running through our heads,” said Marshal’s aunt, Kayla Stewart.
Early Wednesday morning, the search began for little Marshal. He had wandered off in Ponce De Leon, Florida. His autism and inability to speak made the search even more urgent. Thankfully, he wasn’t alone—his two loyal dogs were with him.
Neighbors and police quickly came together to help. “Minutes are precious when searching for a child,” said Corey Dobridnia, Public Information Officer for the Walton County Sheriff’s Office. The search team wasted no time, covering the area as fast as possible.
Later that evening, a neighbor, Carol Shelton, spotted Marshal about a mile from home. Amazingly, Nala and Buckwheat were right by his side. “It was a miracle,” Shelton said. “[His] dogs were right there with him. We’re thankful they guided him along and kept him safe.”
Dobridnia also praised the dogs. “Marshal was in good spirits when we found him. A little dirty from the walk through the woods, but unharmed and happy. The dogs’ instincts kicked in—they stayed with him and kept him safe until we got there.”
The family was overjoyed to have their son back. Even more, they were incredibly proud of their loyal dogs. “They did their job,” Marshal’s mom said proudly.
This heartwarming story shows just how amazing and protective our furry friends can be.
